Live-wood wall for levees, &amp;c.



.. P atented May l3, m2."

, J. PATTEN. I uvE W000 WALL FDR LEVEES', 00.

(Application filed. In. 18, 1898.) 0

5 Sileets$hg0t I,

(No Model.)

No. 700,076. Patented May l3. I902.

' J. PATTEN.

{WE woon WALL FUR LEVEES, ac,

(Application flled'llar. 18, 1898.\

mmzssas: INVENTOR.

' L JbhnPaZZen.

Y INVENTOR J07? jaZZ'en.

Patented May l3, I902.

J. PATTEN. LIVE WOOD WAL L FOB LEVEL-.8, 31.0.

(Application filed Mar. 18, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: 1

mus PETE N9. 700,076. Patented May l3, I902.

J. PATTEN, LIVE WO0D WALL FOR LEVEES, 81.0. 7 (Application filed Mar. 18, 1898.) (lo Model.) 5 Sheots$heet 4.

WITNESSES: x INVENTOR.

W .fo/znPaZZivz.

N0. 700,070. Patented May l3, l90'2.

. .1. PATTEN.

LIVE WOOD WALL FOB LEVEES, 8w.

(Applich-tion filed Mar. 18, 189B.) (No Model.) I 0 5 Shdefs-Sheet 5.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR. 7/ 7M aaknfiazzm.

TNE uonms PETERS cc vnomlma. WASHINGTON, d. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN PATTEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

}i.|vEj-wo oo WALL FOR LEVEES, aw.

SPEOIFIGATIQNYQr-ming part of Letters Patent No. 700,076, dated May 13, 1 902. Application filed March 18, 1898. Serial No, 674,323- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, J OHN PATTEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulInvention RelatingtoLive-Wood Walls for Levees,VVater-l?ipes, and other Purposes,

in thefollowing specificatiom in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embankment formed by carrying out-my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a large embankment formed by depositing sediment or earth between live-wood retaining-walls. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of a large embankment formed of live-wood retainingwalls, earth, and sediment in process of enlargement, the different tiers of the live-wood walls being arranged so as to'form a continuous external wall, which is braced by anchortrees extending into the embankment. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view of a live-wood wall-embankment formed from trees assembled X shape, which grow together, forming a double live-wood wall united above the ground and earth filled in between them. Fig. 5 is a more complete embankment formed by two X-shaped live-wood walls with the space between them filled in with sediment. This embankment is furthermore provided with a large pipe formed-bylive-wood walls, which after they have grown to the required thickness will eventually be covered over in the embankment. This view also shows the lower bank of the river protected by a single livewood wall, which may sometimes be overflowed, depending upon the large embankment to keep the high waters within bounds Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a system of livewood-walllevees providing for a high higher to the lower course.

and low level watercourse, one or both of which may be navigable and provided with a system of propelling boats by power developed from the water descending from the Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an elevated canal formed by two X-shaped live-wood embankments. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a more substantial ele- 6o vated canal, each bank of which is composed of two sets of X-shaped live-wood walls, earth or sediment being filled in between them.

In carrying out my invention any tree, shrub, or vine (or any long-lived Wood plant) can be used which will grow in the desired form of the proposedlive-woodwall in the soil, moisture,'and climate, and I consider the use of any particular species an equivalent for the others, which are too numerous .to men- 7c tion separatelyn Usually I will prefer to use hardy rapidly-growin g trees, which will read- .ilyrtakeroot-when planted,- especially those trees which can be propagated'from cuttings.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to use young saplings, raised either from seeds or cuttings and which have previously taken root, so that they will more readily grow after being transplanted and assembled in position to form a live-wood wall. i

In forming embankments where the earth is filled in from sediment from running water willows are very good trees to use on account of their rapid growth and the ease with which they can be raised, transplanted, and propagated, and they are so vigorous that they will get plenty of nourishment and grow rapidly when planted in rows close together to form a live-wood wall, and their roots permeate' the sediment deposited around them 0 so thickly that the sediment will be more difficnlt to wash away in the event of an overflow.

There are so many trees that can be used in the various modifications herein shown of g 5 my invention that I will not describe their relative advantages-here.

No matter what kind of trees are used in carrying out my invention they will generally be raised to a certain size as independent :00

trees, stems, or limbs in the usual way. Then 7 in using those species which are easily propagated'from cuttings the trees, stems, or limbs will be cut off above the ground, so other stems, trees, or branches may grow from the same roots, while those that are cut off for use will be trimmed, joined, assembled, and planted. Sometimes the cuttings will be planted one season ahead of the time at which they are to be used as part of the live-wood wall in order that their growth may be started under more favorable conditions. In joining and assembling the trees I avoid as much as possible interfering with the bark of the trees. However, the bark is sometimes removed and the wood cut into where the trees join each other, care being taken to dress any wounds not covered by the adjoining trees. I preferably fasten the trees together by rods,

bolts, screws, nails, dowels, or other fastening by having them penetrate into the wood of the trees at-the places where they join. The trees may be notched and fitted into each other where they cross until their bodies come in contact or almost touch each other, so it will not take too long a time for them to join and form a tight live-wood wall.

When it is necessary to close the space between the trees up without waiting for the growth of the trees to do it, a strip of dead material inserted in the space between the trees and fastened in place by being mortised, grooved, nailed, or fastened in any suitable way and the expansion of the trees by growth will soon press against the inserted piece so tightly that it will make a tight joint. Then as the live trees increase in size they will grow around the inserted dead material and eventually join together and the inserted dead material will be housed in a live-wood wall. Sometimes instead of inserting dead material I will interpose live trees. Both the main trees and the inserted ones will be trimmed and joined together on the contact sides, the inserted tree being cut off where it abuts against the crossing tree. The trees will be grafted together and grow as a livewood wall. The intervening tree will have its large end planted in contact with ground, so it can take root and branches can grow from its sides.

I will sometimes fill the space between the trees with asphaltum or some other moderately-soft material, which will make it tight, preventing the escape of water and at the same time be soft enough to yield to the expansion of the trees as they increase in size by their natural growth until they join together, forming a live wood wall, having forced the soft material out.

I prefer-joining the trees together by inserting the fasteners in the wood of the tree at the place of contact to holding the trees together by an external frame, because the latter would interfere with the flow of the sap under the bark and interfere with the deposition of a layer of wood there each year, as is done under the bark on other parts of the trees while they are growing. Consequently it isobjectionable to have the outside of the trees or live-wood walls come in contact with anything rigid enough to hold them in position. In building large embankments two or more small live-wood-wall embankments will be first constructed on the site of the proposed large one. These first-constructed live-wood walls will usually be constructed on the margin of the proposed large one and will sometimes be reinforced by the small embankment of earth thrown up against them. Sometimes straw or other material will be thrown against the trees, forming the live-wood wall for the earth to lie against-that is, when the trees are young. Eventually these first-constructed live-wood walls will become a part of the permanent embankment, which will usually be built up by the deposition of sediment from muddy water, which is run in the inclosures between the live-wood walls. Muddy water is obtained from a natural source when available; but sometimes it will be pumped from the river and sometimes earth will be deposited between the trees in the usual Way that earth embankments are formed. As the space between the live-wood walls is filled with sediment, a temporary embankment can be thrown against the trees planted to form a live-wood wall, so they will retain the water before they have entirely grown together and after the sediment has raised to the height of a terrace supported by a live-wood retaining-wall, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. live-wood retaining-wall will be constructed on the sediment and another terrace built up in the same way, and so on until the embankment is built up to the required height. The live-wood walls in the meantime will be left growing, increasing in strength and thickness all the time, and the embankment will continue to be enlarged by the deposition of sediment from the Water run over the terraces to irrigate the live-wood walls. When it is necessary to increase the width and height of a previously-constructed embankment, it can be accomplished in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, where the terraces on the left of the embankment are in process of enlargement, a live-wood-wall levee being constructed on one side of the older embankment and the space between them filled in with sediment from running water, or earth can be filled in between in the usual way, and this operation is repeated until the embankment has received the required enlargement.

I sometimes weave or braid the young saplings together and fasten their upper cross= ings to prevent them from chafing or getting out of place. Then when they grow together, forming a live-wood wall, the wood fibers will be interwoven in such a manner as to materially strengthen the wall.

Sometimes instead of only having a small levee on each side of the proposed embankment when it is to be very Wide and long several lines of live-wood walls will be planted and the muddy water alternately introduced between them, so while the sediment is being deposited between one set of walls the Another.

other set can be used for agricultural purp0ses, and vice versa, the sediment forming a rich soil, which will not have to be fertilized, and when it is necessary to irrigate the tract under cultivation it can be done in the times the muddy waters can be obtained at the required elevation from a tributary of the river.

In constructing levees along the bank of rivers that are not subject to great floods sometimes all that is necessary will be the construction of an X-shaped live-wood wall, as in Fig.4, formed by two rows of trees crossed and fastened together. Earth, straw, 850., can be thrown in between and around the trees, which will eventually as they grow increase in size until they unite, forming a double live-wood wall, makinga safe and substantial embankment. .For more important rivers I propose making the embankments as shown in Fig. 5. First, a single live-wood wall will be planted deep into the soil near the river, which is to prevent the washing away of the banks. The high waters may sometimes overflow this live-wood wall and then the high waters will beheld withinbounds by the principal embankment, as shown to the left, which is constructedby first building two X-shaped live-wood-wall levees like Fig. '7, and then filling in the space between them by sediment from muddy water. When pure watercan be obtained at a sufficient elevation from a tributary and cities are located farther down the river,where they need a water-supply, I will sometimes construct a large live-wood-wall pi pe,as shown in Fig- 5, and as they grow they will increase in size until they join together, forming the live-wood walls of a large pipe. After the walls have grown to the required thickness the conduit can be buried in the embankment and act as a large water-pipe. This will make a very desirable water-supply pipe, because there will be no danger of-poisoning the water with metallic compounds, and when the live-wood pipe is buried under the sediment and kept full of water the wood will not decay.

In constructing large wood Wall levees along the banks of navigable rivers when a sufficient quantity of Water can be obtained from a tributary or from a higher source of the river at a sufficient elevation it will sometimes be desirable to form a large canal on the top of the levees, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby producing a high and low level watercourse, and at the required places power can be developed from the water descending from the high to the low watercourse through water-wheels. I have here shown a waterwheel operating a dynamo, which develops electricity propelling boats by a trolley system on the river or canal. The powerof course can be used for other purposes. system will be so conducted that the muddy water will be admitted onto the live-woodwall terraces, and after the most of the sediment has settled the clearer water will be allowed to run into one of the watercourses, and by this means embankments on each side will be elevated by the .growth of live-wood This walls and deposition of the sediment, so the height of the elevated canal will increase with time and form a valuable source of power along the course of the river.

Sometimes in constructing an elevated canal or reservoir above the level of the surrounding land an X-shaped double live-wood wallembankment, as shown in Fig. 7, will answer. When necessary, straw can be thrown against the side of the trees and-covered with earth, which will make the embankment hold water moderately well until the trees grow together,

a tight joint, and consequently is virtuallya continuation of the live-wood wall ofmy in- V vention. Sometimes the space between the trees will be closed by inserting a strip'of wood, metal, or other material, the'edges of which will rest in grooves in the trees, and as the trees grow around the inserted strips they will eventually join, inclosing them inthe live-wood walls.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLe'tters Patent, is.

1. A live-wood wall composed of live trees or other long-lived wood plants which were as-' sembled, fastened together and'planted substantially as herein described and for the purposes setforth.

2. A live-wood wall composed of trees (or other long-lived wood plants) which were trimmed or flattened where they were joined before they were assembled, fastened together and planted, substantially as herein shown and forthe purposes herein set forth.

3. 'An X-shaped live-Wood wall composed of live trees (or other long-lived plants) which were crossed, assembled X-shaped in a double row, fastened together and planted, substantially as herein described and for the p u rposes set forth.

4. A live-wood-wall pipe composed of live trees (or other long-lived wood plants) which were trimmed or flattened beneath the bark on the sides Where they join before they were assembled, fastened together and planted substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

5. A live-Wood wall composed of live trees (or other wood plants) assembled, fastened together and planted snbstantiallyas described, in combination with sediment or earth deposited between or against the live-wood wall.

JOHN PATTEN.

Witnesses:

M. J. AMICK, E. W. PHELPS. 

